Thumbs up for AGA in County Durham as Northern challenge mounts - South Durham Hunt Farmers Club stage a cracker

This was one of the 22 Ladies Open races that we are not sponsoring, however, these 22 races give the riders the opportunity to earn points for the AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship. Not only do they earn points, but each rider who takes part is given a £25 AGA gift voucher, with the winner receiving vouchers to the value of £125!

Thumbs up for AGA - photo courtesy of Sam Drake

There were 12 entries and 10 stood their ground to give us a great race which was won by Luci Sutcliffe on Minstalad, in the process earning Luci her first AGA points of the season. Jacqueline Coward picked up an extra 4 points to take her to 20, only 6 points off the lead, while Gemma Tutty and Andrea Taylor also picked up their first points of the season.

Winning rider Luci Sutcliffe receives her vouchers from my mam!

I must say a huge thank you to all 10 of the ladies who took part, not only for taking the time to have your photographs taken - both before and after the race, but for all of your supportive tweets on Sunday evening as well.

I think we need a "funniest caption" prize for this one

Put that champagne back mam!

Got to get the hair right Luci

The girls all came out in their silks after the race to pose for photographs as they were presented with their vouchers by Helen Dix from Walter Dix & Co, and Rose Simpson (my mam).

Jacqueline is also having hair trouble

Could the winner of the AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship
be in this photo?

Not to be outdone my dad - Stan Simpson also decided that he needed a photo with the winning rider and Luci kindly obliged. 

Luci meets Stan

I think the race for the AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship is really warming up and I can sense that a little North vs. South battle could be on the cards!

Sorry, no smart caption with this one I just really liked the photo!